Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has introduced a bill to discourage the marketing of opioids in manipulative ways. The bill would require companies to provide warnings of addictive properties on all opioid products. It also calls for a 10-year prison sentence and harsh financial penalties for executives whose companies have illegally contributed to the opioid crisis. (STAT)

GW Pharmaceuticals has received a positive review from the FDA for Epidiolex, its medicine made from a marijuana plant. The medication, which would be used to treat children with severe epilepsy, would be the first containing a derivative from the marijuana plant approved for medical use. The FDA is set to make a final decision in June. (Washington Post)


Sanofi is selling its generic drug unit to Advent International for $2.4 billion. Sanofi, which is turning its focus toward biotechnology and new medicines, bought Bioverativ and Ablynx NV this year to expand both its hemophilia treatments and experimental medicines.

(Bloomberg)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions could limit how many opioids a company can manufacture annually with a proposed change to national drug policy. The proposed change would allow the DEA to reduce the amount for any company connected to the misuse of drugs by using a database that tracks the distribution of painkillers. (Washington Post)

UnitedHealth Group’s first quarter earnings beat estimates and the company raised its 2018 outlook. The largest U.S. health insurer has increased its number of doctors, urgent care centers, and surgery centers through acquisitions. (CNBC)